Clamping mechanism for grounding photovoltaic module(s)

Abstract

A clamping mechanism includes a first fastener and a second fastener. The second fastener includes a head having a first rib with a first serration, a second rib with a second serration, a third rib with a third serration, and a fourth rib with a fourth serration. The first rib extends a first length and the first serration extends a second length that is less than the first length. The second rib extends a third length and the second serration extends a fourth length that is less than the third length. The third rib extends a fifth length and the third serration extends a sixth length that is less than the fifth length. The fourth rib extends a seventh length and the fourth serration extends an eighth length that is less than the seventh length. The second fastener includes a body coupled to the first fastener.

1 . A clamping mechanism configured to clamp a photovoltaic module to a rail, the clamping mechanism comprising:
 a first fastener; and   a second fastener including:
 a first end having a head configured to reside within a channel of the rail, the head including:
 a first rib, 
 a first serration disposed on the first rib, 
 a second rib, 
 a second serration disposed on the second rib, 
 a third rib, 
 a third serration disposed on the third rib, 
 a fourth rib, and 
 a fourth serration disposed on the fourth rib; and 
 
 a second end having a body coupled to the first fastener. 
   
     
     
         2 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body extends from the head;   the first rib and the second rib are disposed on a first side of the body; and   the third rib and the fourth rib are disposed on a second side of the body.   
     
     
         3 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first rib has a first length;   the first serration has a second length that is less than the first length;   the second rib has a third length;   the second serration has a fourth length that is less than the third length;   the third rib has a fifth length;   the third serration has a sixth length that is less than the fifth length;   the fourth rib has a seventh length; and   the fourth serration has an eighth length that is less than the seventh length.   
     
     
         4 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first serration extends from the first rib;   the second serration extends from the second rib;   the third serration extends from the third rib; and   the fourth serration extends from the fourth rib.   
     
     
         5 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first serration, the second serration, the third serration, or the fourth serration is configured to pierce a dielectric layer of the rail. 
     
     
         6 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first serration, the second serration, the third serration, or the fourth serration is located proximate to a perimeter of the head. 
     
     
         7 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first rib is disposed from a surface of the head by a first distance;   the first serration is disposed from the surface by a second distance that is greater than the first distance;   the second rib is disposed from the surface by a third distance;   the second serration is disposed from the surface by a fourth distance that is greater than the third distance;   the third rib is disposed from the surface by a fifth distance;   the third serration is disposed from the surface by a sixth distance that is greater than the fifth distance;   the fourth rib is disposed from the surface by a seventh distance; and   the fourth serration is disposed from the surface by an eighth distance that is greater than the seventh distance.   
     
     
         8 . A clamping mechanism, comprising:
 a first fastener including:
 a head having: 
 a first rib with a first serration, the first rib extending a first length and the first serration extending a second length that is less than the first length, 
 a second rib with a second serration, the second rib extending a third length and the second serration extending a fourth length that is less than the third length, 
 a third rib with a third serration, the third rib extending a fifth length and the third serration extending a sixth length that is less than the fifth length, and 
 a fourth rib with a fourth serration, the fourth rib extending a seventh length and the fourth serration extending an eighth length that is less than the seventh length; and 
 a body configured to couple to a second fastener. 
   
     
     
         9 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the second fastener; and   a third fastener,   wherein:
 the first fastener couples to a first end of the second fastener; and 
 the third fastener couples to a second end of the second fastener, the second end being opposite the first end. 
   
     
     
         10 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first length has a first cross-sectional shape;   the second length has a second cross-sectional shape that is different than the first cross-sectional shape;   the third length has a third cross-sectional shape;   the fourth length has a fourth cross-sectional shape that is different than the third cross-sectional shape;   the fifth length has a fifth cross-sectional shape;   the sixth length has a sixth cross-sectional shape that is different than the fifth cross-sectional shape;   the seventh length has a seventh cross-sectional shape; and   the eighth length has an eighth cross-sectional shape that is different than the seventh cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         11 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein:
 at least two of the first cross-sectional shape, the third cross-sectional shape, the fifth cross-sectional shape, and the seventh cross-sectional shape are the same; and   at least two of the second cross-sectional shape, the fourth cross-sectional shape, the sixth cross-sectional shape, and the eighth cross-sectional shape are the same.   
     
     
         12 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of:
 the first length and the seventh length are the same;   the second length and the eighth length are the same;   the third length and the fifth length are the same; or   the fourth length and the sixth length are the same.   
     
     
         13 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first length is defined above a surface of the head by a first height;   the second length is defined above the surface by a second height that is greater than the first height;   the third length is defined above the surface by a third height;   the fourth length is defined above the surface by a fourth height that is greater than the third height;   the fifth length is defined above the surface by a fifth height;   the sixth length is defined above the surface by a sixth height that is greater than the fifth height;   the seventh length is defined above the surface by a seventh height; and   the eighth length is defined above the surface by an eighth height that is greater than the seventh height.   
     
     
         14 . The clamping mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first rib and the second rib are disposed on a first side of the body; and   the third rib and the fourth rib are disposed on a second side of the body.   
     
     
         15 . A fastener configured to electrically ground a photovoltaic module, the fastener comprising:
 a body; and   a head coupled to the body, the head including:
 a first rib disposed on a first side of the body, 
 a first serration disposed on the first rib, 
 a second rib disposed on a second side of the body, and 
 a second serration disposed on the second rib. 
   
     
     
         16 . The fastener of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first rib has a first length;   the first serration has a second length along the first length, the second length being less than the first length;   the second rib has a third length; and   the second serration has a fourth length along the third length, the fourth length being less than the third length.   
     
     
         17 . The fastener of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one of:
 a third rib disposed on the first side;   a third serration disposed on the third rib,   a fourth rib disposed on the second side, or   a fourth serration disposed on the fourth rib.   
     
     
         18 . The fastener of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the third rib has a third length that is greater than the first length; and   the fourth rib has a fourth length that is greater than the second length.   
     
     
         19 . The fastener of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first rib extends from the head by a first height;   the first serration extends from the head by a second distance that is greater than the first height;   the second rib extends from the head by a third height; and   the second serration extends from the head by a fourth distance that is greater than the third height.   
     
     
         20 . The fastener of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second fastener having a first end and a second end, the fastener being coupled to the first end; and   a third fastener rotatably coupled to the second end.